Electric outlet-box.



G. J. DORFF. ELECTRIC OUTLET BOX. APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 22,1907.

Q Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. J. DORFF. ELECTRIC OUTLET BOX. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22,1907.

905,998 Patented Dec.8,1908.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CON-RAD J. DORFF, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FREDERIO GREEK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC OUTLET-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

Application filediune 22, 1907. Serial No.380,189..

ful Improvements in Electric Outlet-Boxes,

of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is the production of an improved means for closing an opening in such amannerthat the open,- ing may be readily cleared when desired.

The invention is herein shown as applied to outlet boxes for electric wiring and simi lar purposes, such boxes having conduit-receiving openings formed in their walls. The boxes are marked with the openings closed, and when the boxes are installed,

uch of the openings as are to be used are cleared by the workman, the remaining openings being left plugged.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an outlet box embodying the featuresv of my invention. Fig. 2 represents a punch and die for forming the opening in the outlet box and the plug for closing said opening. Fig. 3 is atop plan view of said die. Fig. 1 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 but showing the plug punched from the plate. Fig. 5 is a section through the plate after the formation of the o 'ening. Fig. (5 is a face view of said p ate. Fig. 8 is a. sectional view of the plugreinserted in the plate. Fig. 9 represents a clenching punch in position to secure the plug in its opening. Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the plate and plug as shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a top plan view of sai parts after the clenching operation. Fig. 12 is a section on line 12 12 of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a view of the bottom of the toolshown in Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates an outlet box, the walls of which are provided with a plurality of conduit-receiving open- 45 I ings 2, said openings being closed by the slugs 3 which were punched from the metal in forming the 0 enings. For makin the openings 2 I emp 0y a punch 4 and a ie 5. Said die has an opening 6 therein, the u per ends of the walls of which are bevele as shown at 7 A plurality of teeth 8 extend inwardly from said beveled walls. The

punch 4 is' made tapering, and its lower end 9 is tapered at a greater angle than the por- I tion above it, forming a face at the extreme end of said punch of smaller area than the area of the lower end of said first-mentioned tapered portion. When a slug is being punched from a blank 10 said face will be sunk into the metal, raising an annular peripheral fin 11 upon said slug. The portions of the blank lying over the beveled blank, the opening will be enlarged b thepunch during the latter part of its ownward movement."

. When closing the op'ening 2, the slug 3 is placed in said opening with the fin 11 at the same side of the blank as the raised portions 12, as shown in Fig. 8. More or less of the parts of the. fin 11 lying opposite the open spaces between the'ends of the raised portions upon the blank 10 are their bent outward to overlie. the edge of the opening 2, and all or a part of each of the raised portions 12 is forced inwardly to overhang said slug, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. The fin '11 and raised portions 12 may be thus bent by any suitable means, as, for example, the clenching punch 13 shown in Figs. 9 and 13, said punch having surfaces adapted to bend portions of the raised portions 12 inward, and portions of the fin 11 outward. I have herein shown only the ends of the raised portions 12 bent inward, but it will be obvious that the whole of each of said portions 12 might be thus bent.

I do not depend upon friction as a securing means for the slug, for it has been found that friction between the slug and the walls of its opening is variable in amount and efiiciency, depending upon thecondition of the tools, the manner of working, etc. On the contrary, I entirely eliminate friction as a securing means by making the slug smaller than its opening, and'positively securing the slug in its opening by the clenched portions 11 and 12, as described. The clenched portions of the fin 11 prevent dis lacement of the slug in one direction, and t e overhanging corners of the portions 12 prevent movement of the slug in the opposite direction.

Making the slug smaller than its opening,

also facilitates insertion of the slug.

The securing means herein shown for the slug 3 is strong enough to prevent said slug from being knocked or shaken out of its opening by the jars and rough treatment incidental to transportation and installation, but when it is desired to clear the opening the slug maybe readily driven therefrom by means of a hammer or other suitable tool.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the embodiment herein illustrated Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, Wherefore I desire to have it understoodthat I do not limit myself to the precise details herein set forth.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electric outlet box having an opening therein and a raised portion near said opening, a plug lying in said opening, said plug having a portion overlying the edge of said opening to positively prevent displacement of said plug in one direction, the raised portion on said box being bent to overlie said plug to positively prevent displacement of said plug in the opposite direction.

2. An electric outlet box having an opening therein, a plug lying in said opening and smaller in diameter than said opening, and interlocking means on said box and said closing member for positively locking said member in said opening.

3. An electric outlet box having an opening therein, a plug lying in said opening and smaller in diameter than said opening, and interlocking metallic means overlying said and smaller in diameter than said opening,

and interlocking bent overhanging locking portions on said box and said closing member for positively holding said closing member in said opening.

5. A member having an opening therein, a'

plug lying in said opening and having a peripheral fin, portions of which tin are bent to overlie the edges of said opening, and

raised portions on said member bent to overlie said plug.

6. A member having an opening therein, a notched fin integral with said member and surrounding said opening, a member lying in said opening, and a peripheral fin integral With said second mentioned member, portions of said peripheral fin being bent outwardly, and portions of the tin on the first mentioned member being bent inwardly.

7. An electric outlet box having an opening therein and a plug for closing said opening, struck-up flanges at the edge of the opening in the outlet box, and struck-up flanges at the edge of the plug, the flanges on the plug alternating with those on the outlet box, the flanges on the outlet box overlapping the plug. and the flanges on the plug overlapping the outlet box.

CONRAD J. DORFF. Witnesses:

L. L. MiLLER, GEORGE L. CHINDAHL. 

